Water closet installations



y 6, 1968 A. P. BOOTH WATER CLOSET INSTALLATIONS Filed Nov. l2. 1965 I I///{ [/1 I I/ United States Patent 3,392,407 WATER CLOSET INSTALLATIONS Arthur P. Booth, Bushby, England, assignor to Pressarts Limited, Bushby, England, a British company Filed Nov. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 507,267 Claims. (Cl. 43)

It is a well recognised fact that washing of the hands after a toilet has been used is an all-important aid to hygiene and the prevention of disease virus and germs of the alimentary canal being transferred from person to person. In many instances, however, hand-washing facilities are not immediately available or do not attract the attention of the toilet-user.

The object of this invention is to remedy these defects by an all-hygiene water closet installation, in which all post lavatorial requirements are attainable and Without need to touch any toilet fitment before the hands are adequately cleansed.

A further object is a water closet installation which is so equipped that operation thereof will automatically dispense a supply of running water with which the user can wash his hands.

A further object is to implement this without need for the user to go to another part of the locality or to go outside the toilet, and without the need to manipulate a tap or any other dispenser to provide the washing water. Not only this, but the very appearance of the running water will encourage hand-washing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a part vertical section through the water closet installation according to this embodiment.

FIGURE 2 represents a vertical section along line II- II of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the cistern of the installation is designated 1 and is provided with an outlet pipe which conducts flushing water 12 to the bowl of the toilet (not shown), and an inlet pipe 13 through which flushing water 12 is brought into the cistern 1.

The outflow of flushing water through pipe 20 is controlled by known flushing valve means 19 coupled to bell 18 which is itself connected via rod 27 and bar 16, pivotably about spigot 17, to linear draw means 15. Said linear draw means 15 is operable by a foot operated mechanism, as described in my Patent specification No. 3,095,582, to initiate the flushing operation.

The flow of water into the cistern 1, through an inlet 23, from pipe 13, is regulated by known valve means 22 itself controlled by main float bar 11, pivoting on spigot 21, and carrying float 14, the positions of which depend on the level of flushing water 12 in cistern -1.

A reservoir 2 for hand wash water 3 is provided in the cistern 1 by a partition 29, which has an aperture 24 to supply the reservoir with water from the flushing water in the cistern.

The discharge of water from the said reservoir is regulated by an outlet valve 6 which is operable in conjunction with the operation of the flushing system. Said discharge of water takes place into a pipe which conducts the water to the wash basin or equivalent (not shown) which will be arranged in the vicinity of the toilet bowl.

The aforementioned reservoir 2 for hand wash water is itself compartmented to provide a container 4 for liquid soap 5 for use in washing the hands.

An outlet valve 7 is provided for the discharge of liquid soap from container 4 which is operable in conjunction with the operation of the flushing system and which dis- 'ice charges into a pipe 28 leading to said pipe 25 which'then conducts the hand wash water and liquid soap together into the wash basin or equivalent.

Attached to main float bar 11 is a float bar extension 10, carrying control rods 8 and 9 for outlet valves 6 and 7 of reservoir 2 for hand washing water 3 and container 4 for liquid soap 5 respectively.

Said outlet valves 6 and 7 each comprise an outer cylinder provided with circular apertures 26 which allow the liquid to flow through the valve when it is lifted. Each cylinder has a movable solid cylindrical piston fitted therein which moves in response to its particular control rods 8 or 9. The circular apertures 26 are arranged in groups of four, each group encircling said outer cylinder once. Valve 7 for the liquid soap container 4 is provided with one group of apertures 26, whereas valve 6 for the wash water reservoir 2 has two arranged one above the other. Said groups of apertures are arranged in this manner so that when valve 7 is closed by said piston, valve 6 is only half closed as its lower group of apertures are still unobstructed by its piston and water may still flow therethrough until said lower group are themselves closed.

When the flushing action is initiated by means of the foot operated mechanism, linear draw means 15 is pulled downwards, causing bar 16 to pivot about spigot 17 this lifting bell 18 and opening flush valve means 19 to allow water to flow into the bowl of the toilet. Hence the level of the flush water 12 in the cistern 1 falls, as does float 14, this causing main float bar '11 to pivot about spigot 21 and opens water inlet valve 22. Float bar extension 10 also moves and causes outlet valves 6 and 7 for the wash water reservoir 2 and the liquid soap container 4 respectively to be opened by control rods 8 and 9. Wash water 3 and liquid soap 5 are therefore automatically dispensed, together, into the wash basin or equivalent through pipe 25 with the actuation of the flushing system.

After the flushing action has finished, flush water outlet valve means 19 closes and the cistern 1, and hence wash water reservoir 2 through aperture 24, are filled by water flowing into the cistern from pipe 13 trough inlet 23. Float 14 then rises and moves main float bar 11 and float bar extension 10 to their upper positions thus automatically closing inlet valve 22 and outlet valve 7 for the liquid soap container. Outlet valve 6 for the wash water reservoir however does not close immediately as, when outlet valve 7 is first closed only the upper row of apertures 26 in valve 6 are shut off, i.e. the valve 6 is only half closed. This allows the washing water to run clear of liquid soap for rinsing the hands and the wash basin or equivalent before the said piston of outlet valve 6 falls to close the lower group of apertures 26 and hence shut off the flow of water altogther through valve 6.

The system is now automatically restored and ready for its next use.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific details disclosed above.

Thus, the supply of water to the hand wash basin or equivalent may, for example, be implemented in various ways. It may, for example, be derived from a reservoir for washing water arranged adjacent to or on a cistern containing the flushing system and means provided for dispensing water by gravity feed from the reservoir to the hand basin or equivalent automatically in response to the actuation of said flushing system. This reservoir may receive its own independent water supply from the mains or other source.

The installation according to the invention may comprise further refinements, for example means for warming water to be dispensed into the wash basin or equivalent, these means taking for example the form of an electric immersion heater in the reservoir for the hand washing Water.

Again provision may be made for the use of an electrically operated warm air hand drier in the vicinity of the wash basin or equivalent, or alternatively disposable paper towels could be made available, with means for their disposal either by incineration or in suitable containers.

Use of the above mentioned will ensure that hands will be cleansed after use of the toilet, and the door handle, lock and other fittings will be uncontaminated by the hands of users after use of the toilet.

There being no taps, plugs, soap, flush or other filaments to handle, complete toilet hygiene is achieved so far as personal use is concerned.

I claim:

1. A water closet installation of the type having a toilet bowl, comprising, a first reservoir, pipe means for delivering water from a supply to said first reservoir and from the first reservoir to said bowl, a flushing means for operating said pipe means to cause water to flow from said first reservoir to said bowl and to permit water to flow from said supply to said first reservoir, a second reservoir operatively associated with said first reservoir for receiving water from said supply, pipe means connected to said second reservoir for delivering water from said second reservoir to a receptacle other than said toilet bowl, and means operable in response to operation of said flushing means to open the last said pipe means to permit water to flow from the second reservoir to said receptacle other than the bowl.

2. A water closet installation according to claim 1 comprising a cistern housing said first and second reservoirs, and partition means in said cistern separating said first and second reservoirs.

3. A water closet installation according to claim 2 further including a water discharge valve controlling the discharge of water from said second reservoir, and means operatively coupling said valve to the aforesaid flushing means.

4. A water closet installation comprising a flushing system, flushing means for operating said flushing system, a reservoir for washing water operatively associated with said flushing system, and means operable in response to operation of said flushing means for discharging water from said reservoir to a receptacle, a container for liquid soap associated with said washing water reservoir, a delivery pipe leading from said container to said receptacle, and a soap discharge valve coupled to said flushing system for operation simultaneously with the same to open said delivery pipe and dispense liquid soap from said container.

5. A water closet installation comprising a flushing system, flushing means for operating said flushing system, a resorvoir for washing water operatively associated with said flushing system, and means operable in response to operation of said flushing means for discharging water from said reservoir to a receptacle, a cistern housing said flushing system, a water supply line to said cistern, an admission valve in said water supply line, a float in said cistern controlling said admission valve, first and apertured compartment means in said cistern defining said washing water reservoir, a washing water delivery pipe connected to said reservoir, a washing water delivery pipe connected to said reservoir, second compartment means in said cistern defining a liquid soap container, a liquid soap delivery pipe connected between said container and said washing water delivery pipe, first valve means controlling said washing water delivery pipe, second valve means controlling said liquid soap delivery pipe, and means coupling each of said first and second valve means to said float for movement therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,808,294 6/1931 Crane 43 1,868,760 7/1932 Norberg 4--3 2,495,201 1/1950 Snowball 4-3 3,015,827 1/1962 Iwata 43 FOREIGN PATENTS 157,344 6/ 1954 Australia.

252,390 6/ 1964 Australia.

255,523 2/1963 Australia.

183,698 3/1955 Holland.

175,956 3/ 1935 Switzerland.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WATER CLOSET INSTALLATION OF THE TYPE HAVING A TOILET BOWL, COMPRISING, A FIRST RESERVOIR, PIPE MEANS FOR DELIVERING WATER FROM A SUPPLY TO SAID FIRST RESERVOIR AND FROM THE FIRST RESERVOIR TO SAID BOWL, A FLUSHING MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID PIPE MEANS TO CAUSE WATER TO FLOW FROM SAID FIRST RESERVOIR TO SAID BOWL AND TO PERMIT WATER TO FLOW FROM SAID SUPPLY TO SAID FIRST RESERVOIR, AND SCOND RESERVOIR OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST RESERVOIR FOR RECEIVING WATER FROM SAID SUPPLY, PIPE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND RESERVOIR FOR DELIVERING WATER FROM SAID SECOND RESERVOIR TO A RECEPTACLE OTHER THAN SAID TOILET BOWL, AND MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO OPERATION OF SAID FLUSHING MEANS TO OPEN THE LAST SAID PIPE MEANS TO PERMIT WATER TO FLOW FROM THE SECOND RESERVOIR TO SAID RECEPTACLE OTHER THAN THE BOWL. 